Escalation in the conflict
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: September 03, 2024 -

From the manner in which Kuki-Chin militants had launched a co-ordinated attack with use of snipers and weaponised drones to drop bombs over Koutruk and nearby Kadangband villages in Imphal West district from the hilltops of Bethel Kuki village in the neighbouring Kangpokpi district on Sunday (September 1), there should be no more doubt in the mind of anyone about the danger increasingly posed by Kuki-Chin militants to the internal security as well as stability of not just Manipur but also of India.

The co-ordinated attacks, which came just a day after people of Kuki-Chin community organised a 'nation-wide peace rally' demanding separate administration and action against Chief Minister N Biren Singh over a viral audio clip, wherein he allegedly made certain objectionable comments, and also just a couple of days after the Chief Minister had expressed confidence of restoring peace in the state fully within six months, has unfortunately led to loss of two more lives and injuries to nine others including two police personnel and a reporter of a local television news channel who was covering the event.

There had been instances of co-ordinated attacks carried out by Kuki-Chin militants on the villages of Meetei/Meeteis in the fringe areas or located close to the hills in the ethnic conflict that has been going on between the two communities since May 3 last year, but it is for the first time that high-tech drones had been used to drop bombs.

This has been confirmed not only by the eyewitnesses but also by the Manipur Police itself, when it acknowledged that while drone bombs have commonly been used in general warfare, this recent deployment of numerous RPGs using high tech drones against security forces and the civilians marks "a significant escalation" in the conflict.

In a statement posted on the microblogging site X, Manipur Police has also noted that "involvement of highly trained professionals, possibly with technical expertise and support, cannot be ruled out".

On the other hand, a press statement issued from the side of the Secretariat: Home Department, Government of Manipur has strongly condemned "the unfortunate incident of attack on unarmed Koutruk villagers using drone, bombs and many sophisticated weapons" and said that "such act of terrorising upon the villagers is viewed very seriously by the state government" as it is an attempt to derail the efforts being made to restore peace and normalcy in the strife-torn state.

Even as the Home Department has assured the people that the State Government has already taken up immediate action to control the situation and punish those who were involved in the attack, the statement posted through the social media handle of Manipur Police has appealed to the general public to "maintain restraint" as "combing operations are going on to flush out any inimical elements".

All these prompt responses to one of the most ferocious attacks ever carried out by Kuki-Chin militants on unarmed civilians are appreciable:

But the failure of stating with conviction that the attack was carried out by Kuki-Chin militants in both the statements issued from the side of Manipur Police through its social media handle and the Home Department has put a question big mark.

Rather than trying to be politically correct by saying "alleged Kuki militants" or "suspected Kuki militants", it's time for the Government of Manipur and its Police Department to have the gut to call a spade a spade.

It's no secret to anyone about the identities of those perpetrating the violence since day one.

When "a significant escalation" in the conflict with use of weaponised drones has been acknowledged and "involvement of highly trained professionals, possibly with technical expertise and support, cannot be ruled out," it is definitely no time to indulge in niceties but be firm and resolute both in word and action.